| Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[\theta = 160\,(2\pi) = 320\pi \;\text{rad}\] | The total angular displacement is the number of revolutions multiplied by \(2\pi\) radians per revolution. |
| \[\alpha = \frac{2\theta}{t^{2}}\] | For uniformly accelerated rotation starting from rest, \(\theta = \tfrac{1}{2}\alpha t^{2}\); solving for \(\alpha\) gives this expression. |
| \[\alpha = \frac{2(320\pi)}{(15.0)^{2}} = 8.94\;\text{rad\,s}^{-2}\] | Substitute \(\theta = 320\pi\,\text{rad}\) and \(t = 15.0\,\text{s}\) to obtain the angular acceleration. |
| \[I = \frac{\tau}{\alpha}\] | Newton’s second law for rotation: torque \(\tau\) equals moment of inertia \(I\) times angular acceleration \(\alpha\). |
| \[I = \frac{10.8\,\text{N\,m}}{8.94\,\text{rad\,s}^{-2}} = 1.21\;\text{kg\,m}^{2}\] | Insert \(\tau = 10.8\,\text{N·m}\) and \(\alpha = 8.94\,\text{rad\,s}^{-2}\) to find the sphere’s moment of inertia. |
| \[I = \frac{2}{5} M R^{2}\] | Moment of inertia for a solid sphere of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\). |
| \[M = \frac{5I}{2R^{2}}\] | Solve the solid-sphere moment-of-inertia formula for mass \(M\). |
| \[M = \frac{5(1.21)}{2(0.36)^{2}} = 23.3\;\text{kg}\] | Substitute \(I = 1.21\,\text{kg\,m}^{2}\) and \(R = \tfrac{0.72}{2} = 0.36\,\text{m}\) to calculate the mass. |
| \[\boxed{M \approx 23.3\,\text{kg}}\] | The required mass of the solid sphere. |
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To increase the moment of inertia of a body about an axis, you must

A hoop with a mass \(m\) and unknown radius is rolling without slipping on a flat surface with an angular speed \(\omega\). The hoop encounters a hill and continues to roll without slipping until it reaches a maximum height \(h\).
A boy is sitting at a distance \( d_1 \) from the fulcrum, and girl is sitting at a distance \( d_2 \) from the fulcrum, with \( d_1 > d_2 \). The seesaw is level, with the two ends at the same height. Derive an equation for the minimum mass of the seesaw that will keep it balanced with the two children on it.
Two masses, \( m_y = 32 \) \( \text{kg} \) and \( m_z = 38 \) \( \text{kg} \), are connected by a rope that hangs over a pulley. The pulley is a uniform cylinder of radius \( R = 0.311 \) \( \text{m} \) and mass \( 3.1 \) \( \text{kg} \). Initially, \( m_y \) is on the ground and \( m_z \) rests \( 2.5 \) \( \text{m} \) above the ground.
A solid sphere of mass \( 1.5 \, \text{kg} \) and radius \( 15 \, \text{cm} \) rolls without slipping down a \( 35^\circ\) incline that is \( 7 \, \text{m} \) long. Assume it started from rest. The moment of inertia of a sphere is \( I= \frac{2}{5}MR^2 \).
A ladder at rest is leaning against a wall at an angle. Which of the following forces must have the same magnitude as the frictional force exerted on the ladder by the floor?
A Christmas ornament made from a thin hollow glass sphere hangs from a thin wire of negligible mass. It is observed to oscillates with a frequency of \( 2.50 \) \( \text{Hz} \) in a city where \( g = 9.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). What is the radius of the ornament? The moment of inertia of the ornament is given by \( I = \frac{5}{3} mr^2 \).
A child of mass \( 3 \) \( \text{kg} \) rotates on a platform of \( 10 \) \( \text{kg} \). They start walking towards the center while the platform is rotating. Which of the following could possibly decrease the total angular momentum of the child-platform system?

A \( 50 \, \text{kg} \) person is sitting on a seesaw \( 1.2 \, \text{m} \) from the balance point. On the other side, a \( 70 \, \text{kg} \) person is balanced. How far from the balance point is the second person sitting?
A windmill blade with a rotational inertia of \( 6.0 \) \( \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \) has an initial angular velocity of \( 8 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) in the clockwise direction. It is then given an angular acceleration of \( 4 \) \( \text{rad/s}^2 \) in the clockwise direction for \( 10 \) seconds. What is the change in rotational kinetic energy of the blade over this time interval?
\(23.3\,\text{kg}\)
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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